Centre clears large-scale potato, chana and tur procurement

The Centre has approved the procurement of potatoes in Uttar Pradesh, alongside Chana procurement operations in Andhra Pradesh, and also extended Tur (pigeon pea) procurement time frame in Karnataka. Approved by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, these procurements guarantee that farmers receive fair and remunerative prices for their hard-earned produce. They effectively shield producers from the hardships of distress sales in volatile markets and contribute to overall stability and predictability in the agricultural marketplace, fostering a more secure environment for cultivation and trade. 
Speaking about it, Chouhan on Saturday reaffirmed that the Government is steadfastly committed to protecting and advancing the interests of every farmer across the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He elaborated that a core objective of the administration is to ensure that no farmer is compelled to offload their crops at undervalued rates due to market pressures or any unforeseen circumstances. He further highlighted the ministry’s proactive approach, emphasising continuous and close coordination with state governments to deliver prompt, empathetic, and highly effective interventions tailored to farmers’ needs.
In Uttar Pradesh, potato procurement of 20 lakh metric tonnes has been approved under the Market Intervention Scheme for the 2025-26 season, with a fixed intervention price of Rs 6,500.9 per metric tonne. The Centre’s financial outlay for the initiative is estimated at Rs 203.15 crore. The move is expected to prevent distress sales and ensure stable returns for farmers amid volatile market conditions.
For Andhra Pradesh, the government has raised the procurement limit for chana (Bengal gram) under the Price Support Scheme from 94,500 metric tonnes to 1,13,250 metric tonnes for the Rabi Marketing Season 2025-26. The increase comes in response to the state’s request and is aimed at supporting farmers by guaranteeing procurement at assured prices.
In Karnataka, the Centre has extended the procurement period for tur (Arhar dal) by 30 days, allowing farmers to sell their produce at the Minimum Support Price until May 15, 2026. The extension is expected to provide additional time for farmers to access MSP operations and avoid selling at lower market rates.